'Heady' Jackson Park landmark comes back to life after restoration
CHICAGO, September 8, 2003 - After nearly two years of reconstruction and restoration, Jackson Park's 99-year-old Animal Bridge is open for pedestrians and traffic, the Chicago Department of Transportation announced today.
"The completion of the bridge marks a significant milestone in the reconstruction of South Lake Shore Drive from 23rd to 67th streets," said Miguel d'Escoto, commissioner of transportation.
Formerly called the South Bridge, the granite and sandstone Animal Bridge spans the channel between the south harbor and inner lagoon in Jackson Park. Adorning each side of the bridge are six rhinoceros and six hippopotamus heads along with water deities and a ship's prow.
When reconstruction began in 2001, the bridge was carefully disassembled with each stone catalogued and numbered. The stones were cleaned and repaired, and some had to be sculpted due to extensive damage and wear. Nearly 100 years of soot and grime were removed during the restoration process, exposing a slight pink hue, which was the quarried stone's original color.
The 2003 cost to demolish, reconstruct and restore the Animal Bridge is about $6.2 million. The 1904 original cost was $40,085.
For the balance of 2003, road work continues in the following areas:
- Marquette Drive (6600 south) from Jeffery Drive to 67th Street near LaRabida Children's Hospital. Roadway reconstruction is ongoing.
- At the intersection of 57th Drive and South Lake Shore Drive near the Museum of Science and Industry. Intersection and underpass construction are ongoing.
- Along the southbound lanes from 57th Drive to Hayes Drive. This includes construction of the 59th Street and 63rd Street underpasses.
The nearly completed roadway work sets the stage for the start of a major landscaping plan to coincide with the completion of the five pedestrian/bicycle underpasses. Over the next year, thousands of trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses will be planted throughout Burnham and Jackson parks. Through 2004, these areas will include:
- Median landscaping between 23rd and 51st Streets
- Gateway landscaping at 31st Street and Oakwood Blvd. bridges
- Landscaping at the new pedestrian underpasses in Jackson Park
- Completion of underpasses at 57th Drive, 59th Street, 63rd Street and Marquette Drive (just south of the Animal Bridge) including updated paths and architectural finishes. The underpasses will be fully accessible to people with disabilities
- Addition of a boardwalk along 57th Street Beach
- Reconstruction of parking lots along the east side of the Museum of Science and Industry, the Music Court and the northwest corner of Hayes Drive and Lake Shore Drive
The South Lake Shore Drive reconstruction project is funded by the Illinois FIRST program with additional funding from the City of Chicago and the Federal Highway Administration.
For more information, please visit the CDOT Web site at:
www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation.
